By TIM CARPENTER
Kansas Reflector
Democratic leader favors candidate she labels ‘true middle-of-the-road’ politician
TOPEKA — Gov. Laura Kelly formally endorsed state Sen. Ethan Corson’s campaign for governor on Monday, favoring a “true middle-of-the-road” politician she believed capable of drawing enough votes from Kansas Republicans, Democrats and independents to prevail in 2026.
Kelly, a popular governor forbidden from seeking reelection to a third term, said the Democrat from Fairway was the candidate most capable of being a voice of reason in terms of the state budget, protecting K-12 public school funding, lowering taxes and delivering economic growth. These themes, and a relentless critique of former Gov. Sam Brownback, anchored Kelly’s gubernatorial victory over Republican nominee Kris Kobach in 2018 and narrow defeat of GOP candidate Derek Schmidt in 2022.
“Kansas is in good shape right now. And that is why I am enthusiastically endorsing Ethan Corson,” Kelly said in a statement. “Ethan will build on my work, but he will also bring visionary and bold new ideas to the job. His allegiance will be to Kansans, not party or politics. Ethan is a good man. He wants to be governor for the right reasons. He is a true public servant.”
Kelly’s endorsement of Corson wasn’t a surprise, given her statement in July that he would be a “very strong candidate” and pointing to Corson as “someone laser focused on the issues Kansans really care about.”
“Ethan is a true middle-of-the-road candidate who will attract that same broad base of support that is necessary to win but also to then govern effectively. He is the most qualified and most suited to be our next governor,” Kelly said.
In the Kansas Democratic Party’s primary set for August, Corson’s main rival would appear to be Democratic Sen. Cindy Holscher of Overland Park. Democrat Marty Tuley of Lawrence also declared his candidacy.
Corson, an attorney and former director of the Kansas Democratic Party, was elected to the Kansas Senate in 2020 and reelected in 2024 to serve a northeast Johnson County district. In the Senate, Corson said, he joined bipartisan efforts to cut property and income taxes, eliminate a state sales tax on groceries and end the state tax on Social Security benefits. He also sought to target tax relief for the benefit of seniors, veterans and working Kansans.
“I’m honored to have Gov. Kelly’s endorsement and grateful for her confidence in my ability to keep Kansas moving forward,” Corson said.
Corson entered the race for governor in July. He reported Nov. 5 the campaign raised $500,000 from nearly 2,000 donors in the initial 100 days of the campaign. During an 8,000-mile, crisscross journey of Kansas, Corson emphasized lowering the cost of living for working-class families, creating good-paying jobs and strengthening investment in public schools. He said his goal was to bring “both parties to the table to deliver results for all Kansans.”
“Our campaign is about creating a Kansas where the next generation can build a life right here,” he said. “That means lower costs for families, the best public schools in America, safer communities and a growing economy in all 105 counties.”
Corson, 43, earned a law degree at Washington University in St. Louis and worked seven years for a firm in Washington, D.C. He was employed by the U.S. Department of Commerce before returning to Kansas in 2019 to be executive director of the state Democratic Party.
Kansas candidates for governor must maneuver through an electorate that delivered double-digit victories in 2016, 2020 and 2024 for President Donald Trump.
In addition, no political party in Kansas has retained the governorship for more than eight consecutive years since the 1950s.
Candidates for the Republican Party’s nomination for governor include former Gov. Jeff Colyer, Senate President Ty Masterson, Insurance Commissioner Vicki Schmidt, Secretary of State Scott Schwab, businessman Philip Sarnecki, former Johnson County Commissioner Charlotte O’Hara and former Wichita school board member Joy Eakins.